About Women's Ski Clothes
When a woman is skiing, she wants a number of things from her clothes. Not only does she want to look fashionable, but she also wants to be kept warm. In addition, the clothes should provide easy access to her cell phone, tissues and lip balm.
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Function
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Ski clothes serve two purposes: keeping you dry when you ski and keeping you warm. But they also may serve an additional purpose--looking good. A woman on the ski slopes wants clothes that meet the basic needs of safety and comfort as well as providing a reasonable appearance on the slopes. Manufacturers have responded with clothes that provide state-of-the-art fabrics as well as a wide array of colors, cuts and styles (see Resources below).
Types
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Women typically wear three layers when skiing: a thermal layer against the skin made of technologically advanced wicking fabric; a heavier warm layer that is made of technically advanced fabric without regard to issues of sweating; and, lastly, a waterproof layer. During temperate days on the slopes, many women forgo the middle layer, but the initial layer and waterproof layer are critical to a good ski day. The waterproof layer sometimes does double duty as a warm layer, such as when a woman wears bib overalls. Bibs are typically combined with a waterproof jacket that extends below the hips. Some women prefer to wear pants with an outer light jacket and heavier warm layer on their legs as two pieces. The full kit also consists of good ski socks and a helmet as well as waterproof gloves and goggles or wraparound sunglasses. Many women also wear a gator, which is a neck wrap that acts like a long turtleneck to add more warmth. On especially cold days, many female skiers add a vest to their ensemble.
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Considerations
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You'll also likely need access to a bathroom during the course of the day, so be sure you can manipulate your clothing easily. Bib overalls are difficult for this purpose as they require that you remove your upper layer. But if you wear an outfit that is composed of waterproof pants over your thermal layers, make sure you're planning to stay upright most of the day. Pants are more likely to allow snow to seep into your lower layers if you fall while out skiing.
Time Frame
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Most ski clothes are worn for the majority of the day. In fact, you'll see many women skiers wearing part, if not all, of their ski ensembles at dinner. Most women will peel off the first layer or so while sitting at a fire at the end of the day. This is because the jackets can be bulky and somewhat noisy as well as significantly warm. While this is fine on the slopes, it's tough to chat at the bar when your jacket interferes with the conversation. And because the thermal layers are still on to provide any warmth, most women will remove the outer jacket.
Expert Insight
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Try your clothing on before buying. If you're a tall woman, consider looking at men's sizes as many women's ski clothes may not be long enough to fit properly, which might lead to getting snow in your boots. Focus on the initial layer, as that's the one that you'll be feeling most of the day and the one that keeps you from feeling hot and sweaty on the slopes. Skiing is a workout, too, so wear a good sports bra. Don't shy away from something that's pretty, believing that it's not tough enough to ski with. REI, for example, carries many lines of women's ski clothes that are extremely practical as well as available in lovely colors.
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